Rail-clamping device.



PATENTED JUNE 2'7, 1905.

R. D. MAYO.

RAIL GLAMPING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30. 1904.

witness 40K Km MN UNITED STATES Patented June 27, 1905.

PATENT OEEIcE.

ROBERT DIAMOND MAYO, OF FRANKFORT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO LIBBIE HYDE MILLER, OF IVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

RAlL-CLAMPING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 793,082, dated June 27, 1905. Application filed September 30, 1904. Serial No. 226,703.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT DIAMOND MAYO, a citizen of the United States, residing at Frankfort, in the county of Benzie and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Clamping Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in rail-clamps particularly adapted for use with metallic or composition ties.

It has for its object to provide a clamp which does away with loose bolts and nuts, is simple and practical in construction and operation, and cannot work loose.

The invention consists,broadly,of providing the ties with vertical slots into each of which fit the shanks of clamping-pieces, the inner of said pieces adapted to slide in said slots to permit the adjustment and removal of the rail, a vertical pin adapted to fit in the end of said slot to hold the clamping-jaws in engagement with the rail, and a horizontal pin passing transversely through the tie and engaging cut-out portions of the shanks of said clamping-pieces and the vertical pin to hold them fixedly in place.

The invention also consists in a novel form of fish-plates for use in connection with my rail-securing means, also in certain construction of combined metallic and composition ties.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure l is a vertical sectional view through the slot of a tie provided with my improved rail-clamping jaws. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the tie, part being broken away to show the interior construction. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the end of a single-slotted tie with the top of the rail broken away. Fig. 4 is a similar view of a double-slotted tie for use at the joint, showing the arrangement of the fish-plates. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the fish-plates in place. Fig. 6 isa view looking toward the end of a doubleslotted tie holding the meeting rails. Fig. 7 is a section view of a tie, showing its construction. Fig. 8 is an edge view of the outer fish-plate, and Fig. 5) is a side view of the inner fish-plate.

IVhile the preferred embodiment of my invention is fully shown in the accompanying drawings and its construction and operation are described in the following specification, the right is reserved to make such changes from the construction shown and described herein as the scope of the claims hereto appended will permit.

In carrying out my invention 1 preferably construct the ties each of a metallic casing 1, extending around three sides and extending partially across the fourth side from each edge, and fill said casing with cement or other suitable composition. A vertical slot 3 is provided through the tie at each end just below where the rails cross. Clamping-jaws I 4:, having shanks 5 5, extend into said slotsupport and hold the rails. The outer jaws I extend well under the top of the rail and are reinforced, as shown, to brace the joint. The other jaws I, fitting the inner side of the rails, are cut lower to permit the passage of the flange of the car-wheels. As shown in the drawings, the slot 3 is long enough to permit the jaw i" to slide therein away from the rail, so that the latter can be removed or the tie displaced without taking up the rails. A pin or wedge 6, preferably of wood, which is adapted to adjust itself to changes in the metal rails, is inserted in the end of the slot and holds the jaw it in engagement with the rail. The adjacent edges of the shanks 5 5 of the jaws -I L" are provided with grooves or recesses 7 7, which when said jaws are in place to grip the rails register with a transverse slot 8 in the tie. Grooves or recesses are also provided in the opposite edge of the jaw 4: and in the edge of the pin or wedge 6 adjacent thereto, and said grooves are adapted to register with a cross-slot 9. Locking-pins 1O 11 are adapted to lit the slots 8 and 9 to hold the jaws and vertical pins in place. iVhen two rails meet, a wider tie having two parallel vertical slots at each end is used, and, as shown in Fig. 1, two sets of clamping-jaws are used, while the rails meet between them. Outer fish-plates 12 and inner ones, 13, are used to connect the rails. Said outer fish-plate 12, as shown particularly in Fig. 8, has integral lugs 14 adapted to pass through the holes in the web of the rails, said lugs having enlarged heads 15. The outer surface of said plate 12 has vertical grooves 16 therein, adapted to be engaged by the jaws 4:, as shown in Fig. 4, whereby said plate is held securely in place. The inner fish-plate 13 has a flange 17 adapted to rest upon the bottom flange of the rail, said flange 17 having grooves 18 therein,adapted to be engaged by the jaws 4S and locked thereby against lateral movement. The vertical portion of said inner fish-plate is provided with perforations 19 of such size as to admit the heads of the lugs 14: on the other fish-plate and horizontal slots 20 of less width than the diameter of said perforations opening into the latter. To connect the rails, the outer fish-plate is adjusted with its lugs extending through the holes in the web of the rail. The inner fish-plate is applied so that its perforations fit over the heads of said lugs and slid laterally, so that said heads are locked in the slots 20 until the grooves 18 are in position to be engaged by the jaws 4t. Said jaws i and the jaws 4 are then adjusted, as heretofore described, when the joint is enentirely fast and secured against working loose.

It will be readily appreciated that when once the clamp is adjusted, as herein described, it will be impossible for the rails to work loose or become separated at the joint and the ties will never wear out.

It will be noted that the corners of the metal casing of the ties are rounded, which permits of their being tamped, while the bottom being open permits the casing to be readily filled with cement. WVhen the cement has hardened, the tie is complete and ready for use.

With my improved form of tie it is impossible for the rails to spread, which is so commonly the cause of train wrecks.

The vertical pin or wedge may be made of metal or wood. If made of metal, its edge is grooved to receive the cross-pin; but if of wood the cross-pin makes its own way through it at any point, so that said vertical point can be driven in until the clamping-jaws are .perfectly tight.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described,

the combination with a vertically-slotted tie, of clampingjaws having shanks extending into said slot, one of said jaws slidable in said slot to permit the insertion or removal of a rail, a vertical pin adapted to lit in the end of said slot to hold said jaws in engagement with the rail, the shanks of said jaws provided with grooves in their adjacent edges adapted to register with a transverse slot in the tie, a pin adapted to pass through said transverse slot and engage said grooves to lock said jaws in place, and means to lock the vertical pin in position in the vertical slot.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a vertically-slotted tie, of clampingjaws having shanks extending into said slot, one of said jaws slidable in said slot to permit the insertion or removal of a rail, a vertical pin adapted to fit in the end of said slot to hold sa-id jaws in engagement with the rail, the shanks of said jaws provided with grooves in their adjacent edges adapted to 'reg-. ister with a transverse slot in the tie, a pin adapted to pass through said transverse slot and engage said grooves to lock said jaws in place, said pin and the edge of the shank of the jaw adjacent thereto also provided with grooves registering with a second cross-slot in the tie, and another pin adapted to .pass through said latter slot and lock said vertical pin in said vertical slot.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a tie having parallel vertical slots therein, of pairs of clamping-jaws having shanks extending into said slots,each pair of jaws adapted to engage the end of a pair of meeting rails, one of the jaws of each pair slidable in said slots to permit the insertion and removal of the rails, pins adapted to fit in the ends of said slots to hold the jaws in engagement with the rails, means to lock said jaws and pins in said slot, and a fish-plate having lugs extending into perforations in the webs of the rails and grooves on its outer surface adapted to be engaged by the vertical edge of the outer clamping-jaws.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a tie having .parallel vertical slots therein, of pairs of clamping-jaws having shanks extending into said slots, each pair of jaws adapted to engage the end of a pair of meeting rails, oneof the jaws of each pair slidable insaid slots to permit the insertion and removal of the rails, pins adapted to fit in the ends of said slots to hold the jaws in engagement with the rails, means to lock said jaws and pins in said slots, a fish-plate having lugs provided with enlarged heads extending into perforations in thewebs of the rails, and grooves on its outersur-face'adapted to beengaged by the vertical edge of theouter clamping-jaws, and a second fish-plate adapted to be applied to the other side of the rails and IIC having locking-slots to engage the heads of fourth side but leaving an opening in said I thelugs on the other fish-plate, said second lishlatter side whereby the casing may be filled. plate having a flange provided With grooves In testimony Whereoflaflix my signature in adapted to be engaged by the inner elampingpresence of two witnesses.

5 jaws. H r

5. A tie comprising a body of suitable fill- ROBLRl DIAMOND MAX ing and a casing of metal having rounded \Vitnesses: edges and enveloping said body portion on EDITH L. ROWZEE,

three sides and extending partially across the WV. CLARENCE DUVALL. 

